Opinion Line (Dec. 14)

I wish The Eagle would stop talking about how much one or another big business “contributes” to the economy of Kansas. Taxes and fees are not a “contribution.”

Sam “Sunshine” Brownback is shocked – shocked! – to learn that eliminating income tax for the Kochs and other business owners reduces revenue and causes deficits.

Brownback said: “It’s kind of, uh, well where are you going to go for the funds?” How about rescinding the tax cuts to the 191,000 “job creators” that didn’t create anything?

If you ask me, Brownback is doing a good imitation of President Bush.

Dear Governor: Liar, liar, pants on fire.

There had been 114 police officers killed in the line of duty in this country this year as of Thursday, more than two per week. Forty-six were killed by gunfire. Let’s hear a little outrage over that.

There are three simple words to remember to avoid confrontation with police: Obey the law.

State Rep. Gail Finney shouldn’t berate the city and police for racial disparity on the police force. Tell the Hispanic and black parents to teach their children to respect officers and the law and that law enforcement is a noble profession, and minorities will apply. It begins at home.

Get it right, Wichita. The new police chief has to be an outside-the-department hire. Only then can the community heal and start anew. The delay and the lack of information regarding the hiring process smell of intent to name someone from within. Talk to us.

Torture? On Sept. 11 it must have been torture being trapped in those towers. Deciding whether to jump or burn to death must have been pure torture. I don’t condone it, I believe we are safer today because we did it.

After World War II, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East hanged Japanese soldiers convicted by American judges for waterboarding American prisoners. Waterboarding is torture, and as head of intelligence oversight, Sen. Pat Roberts let torture happen.

Perhaps history is something that escapes Democrats. We are at war. They decry enhanced interrogation techniques, which leave the subject healthy and alive, but cheerlead for enhanced drone strikes, which kill and maim not only the targets, but also the so-called innocent collaterals. Does anyone else see the hysterical hypocrisy?

The U.S. has been wearing the white hat trying to be civil while our enemies have been laughing at us while they kill. They do not respect us as an enemy, nor are they afraid of us. It’s past time for us to don a black hat and get mean.

Sure, we were angry and scared after Sept. 11, but torturing and abusing suspected terrorists has only made us more hated and less trusted by millions around the world. Intelligent U.S. leaders ought to be able to figure out that one. We used to be better than that.

This story was originally published December 13, 2014 at 6:03 PM with the headline "Opinion Line (Dec. 14)."